Jeremy Lin powers New York Knicks to third straight win with rout of Pacers

AP/Tom StricklandThe Knicks' Jeremy Lin, right, defends the Pacers' Paul George in the second half.

INDIANAPOLIS — Jeremy Lin scored 19 points to help the New York Knicks defeat the Indiana Pacers 102-88 on Saturday night and improve to 3-0 under interim coach Mike Woodson.

Lin also had seven rebounds and six assists. Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire each scored 16 points and J.R. Smith added 11 for the Knicks, who won on the road for just the eighth time this season.

The Knicks have won all three games by an average of 23.7 points since Woodson took over for Mike D’Antoni. New York defeated the Pacers 115-100 on Friday night in New York.

Roy Hibbert had 24 points and 12 rebounds, Paul George scored 18 points and Darren Collison added 15 points for Indiana, which made just 4 of 15 shots in the fourth quarter.

Back-to-back 3-point plays by Hibbert cut New York’s lead to 72-70. The Knicks held on and led 77-74 at the end of the third quarter. Indiana forced the Knicks into 3-for-13 shooting and six turnovers in the third quarter. Hibbert scored 12 points in the period for the Pacers.

Lin scored on an awkward-looking floater, then made a jumper on the next possession to push New York’s lead back to 86-79. Pacers coach Frank Vogel was issued a technical foul and Anthony made the free throw to push the Knicks’ lead to eight.

New York pulled away from there, leading by as many as 16 points. Lin had eight points in the fourth quarter.

New York led 60-51 at halftime. The Knicks shot just 46 percent from the field, but made 14 free throws and six 3-pointers before the break. Anthony and Stoudemire each scored 10 points in the first half.

The Pacers shot 49 percent in the first half. Collison had 12 points before the break and George had all 10 of his first-half points in the first quarter.

New York pushed its lead to 14 early in the third quarter on a pair of free throws by Stoudemire, but Indiana cut its deficit to nine on a 3-pointer by George. Another three, this one from George Hill, cut New York’s lead to 70-64.

NOTES: Knicks G Baron Davis sat out with a strained right groin. ... Knicks G Toney Douglas missed the game for personal reasons. ... Indiana F/C Jeff Foster was out with a sore lower back. He has missed 10 of the past 11 games. ... New Pacers G Leandro Barbosa was inactive.